Paths of Glory

The matter of loyalty in Paths of Glory is quite the opposite of the aforementioned analysis of such in Lawrence of Arabia; it was an incident of disloyalty through cowardice. In the eyes of the General, it was loyalty over logic, though to Colonel Dax and those that were tried, the act wasn't intentional disloyalty, but practical matter of life and death.

In Paths of Glory, death is a consequence as a result of cowardice. A trial immediately took place, a decision was decided upon, and those charged were immediately executed. Compared to today's standards, this is somewhat of a harsh and expedited process. With history in mind, this was to be expected, as the French government was based on the strict interpretation of Thus, the deaths and other conflicts in Paths of Glory were simply the result of procedure.

There were only four major scenes in Paths of Glory: the battlefield, where the trials took place, the underground prison area, and outside where the execution took place. The simple settings coupled with being filmed in black and white allow the viewer to focus on other intricacies. The tension, anxiety, and depersonalization of military life is captured through the close-quartered scenes.

Military garb was to be expected, but a downside of the movie was the lack of French association, aside from the brief mention of the country they were oh-so loyal to. At times, it was forgotten that the army was French. Perhaps the infusion of language or accents could've helped, as it is vital to consider the historical aspects of French law and warfare when interpreting the movie.